Competition RR's rebuild by Fletcher

[Rhondasway]

Last summer I replaced my motor with a junkyard specimen with 127,000 miles on it. We O-ringed the head, bolted on twins, and off to the races! She ran real good, but I knew it was time for a rebuild.

So our friend and fellow NW gooeyduck enthusiast Bill Fletcher offered to do the work at his shop. Piers provided parts (thank you Piers, Shawn, and PDR, for coming through for me once again! ), I got to do most of the manual labor, but Fletcher took care of the machine work and actual engine building.

I've put about 1000 street miles on her, waiting for a chance at the track. She runs WICKED BAD (as in oh, oh, oh so good!! ). She pulls hard to a respectable RPM and wants to keep going.

Tonight at Pacific Raceway I experienced something new: usually I shift out of 4wd after the 1-2 shift; when I did it this time, the tires broke loose and just kept spinning 'til the end of the track. I tried feathering the throttle, but she just wouldn't hold.

I also had to deal with a non-functioning boost gauge (think I pinched it off), so had to launch by RPM.

Soooo, I got to stage against a Z06 Corvette. :-laf I intended to eat this guy's lunch, and I did by a big, fat margin! I was able to get a decent launch, and with traction loss I got a 1. 71 60' (not my best), and ran a 12. 02 at 111 mph. Oo. It was over 120 degrees at the launch pad, with head/side wind. I attribute my mph loss to running the full track in 4WD.

Fletcher says we can step her up a little now that we've got a baseline and some miles on her, so stay tuned.



Since he doesn't like to be thanked, I'll just say this:A huge thanks to Bill Fletcher for taking the time to make my truck better than ever! I know the best is yet to come... He has shown what he can do with his own truck, and now is proving it's not a fluke. Keep up the good work, you keeper of gooeyducks!

 

[marksmith]

Right On!!!! Glad to hear that puffer fins and other secret squirrel stuff actually work on more than one specimen.



GET-R-DONE!!!!





Mark

 

[Rhondasway]

Don't even get me started on that whole Puffer fish fin thing! He had a whole box of those little dried-out specimens which I think he was going to make a soup out of. Everybody at the track had to listen to his extensive dissertation on the dynamics of the Puffer, its tendency to list, tilt, and veer, and how to properly prepare it for consumption. :-laf

 

[marksmith]

The Puffer Master seems to make a good soup.



Enjoy! Hopefully I will get to the track to see this latest culinary masterpiece.



Mark

 

[BPonci]

Congrats! Good job Bill! Can't wait to hear what times you get when you get her dialed in.

 

[Rhondasway]

At my points race last night, I ran a 12. 00, but am unable to hook up at the starting line so my 60' is not where it should be. Time for some serious rubber; I'm losing traction even at 1/2 track now if I shift out of 4x4... It was still hot yesterday, with a light head wind.

I blew a heater hose, and although I was able to patch it enough to get home, I was done for the night. Too bad, as it cooled off nicely and the wind died. I feel 11's looming; maybe Wednesday. Then we'll crank her up a bit...

 

[marksmith]

Your crazy in a way only someone who knows every inch of 1320 would understand!



Hope all goes well. If ya see a 95 Red std cab... . take it easy on me PUHLEEEEEEAAAASSSEE!

 

[Rhondasway]

New best!! 11.85 @113mph

At the Randy's Off-Road diesel drags last night, I ran 11. 89 twice and an 11. 85!! It was perfect weather, and my 60's were as good as I've done (1. 68, 1. 69). The Princess is running great! Now to get some rubber under her and convince some nice injector manufacturor to loan me a set of something fancy (are DragonFlies in my future?). Then there's ladder bars, front locker... it never ends!

I was runner-up in the Pro1 bracket, beaten by none other than Mr. Fletcher (I got him racing and he's turned on me like a Doberman with a social disorder :-laf ).

Thanks again Fletcher and Piers Diesel Research for keeping me on top of the game, and extending my lead as the fastest 4x4 in the Northwest (gotta be one of the top in the country, eh?) !!

I'm running in the Pro bracket at Pacific Raceway's points series tonight but don't expect to go faster; tonight's all about going rounds...

 

[nascar mark]

Congrats Rhonda,



Take it easy on those corvette boys!! Most are going through a second childhood and when you burst their bubble, they are liable to snap and become as sociable as a discruntel postal worker. :-laf

 

[ob1kobi]

Congrats on your ne times Rhonda. I do believe you are probably top 5 in the country, of those that advertise how fast they are at least. There are a couple guys here in the East that run motor only... Andy Sebek, C-Hawk, Merv, Timmy, that are all right around where you are, then theres a whole second to go before you have any other contenders. Either way, your times are very impressive. Congratulations again.



Ted

 

[Rhondasway]

Thanks Ted. I've been lucky to have access to some of the foremost minds in the diesel world, and some excellent sponsors as well. I have learned a ton in the past two years, and am able to do a lot of my own tuning as a result.

Folks should keep an eye on Mr. Fletcher; he's very new to this community and already dominates with whatever project he puts his hands on; my truck is just one example...

 

[Green Machine]

So you feeden that thing the bottle or is it all Diesel??

Nice work you two. Could mine be nexts????

Im headed up north Friday to test some new Sleepy weasle parts I got from Industrial Injection... . The old girl should do well

 

[DavidTD]

So you feeden that thing the bottle or is it all Diesel??

Nice work you two. Could mine be nexts????

Im headed up north Friday to test some new Sleepy weasle parts I got from Industrial Injection... . The old girl should do well

I'd venture a guess of #2 only. Congrats Rhonda, awesome times no doubt. I'm sure Fletcher has a few more tricks waiting.

 

[fox]

Her profile says "DRUG free"!!!!!!!!!!



Great job Ronda. When you get into the 10's I may drive over there to see ya run a few times.

 

[Green Machine]

Her profile says "DRUG free"!!!!!!!!!!



Great job Ronda. When you get into the 10's I may drive over there to see ya run a few times.

I better pay a little more attention EH.

Thanks for setten me straight.

Most of the trucks up hear can't do that well with a LOT of Nos.

It would take a 400 shot water/Meth and a good clutch for me to even get close.

 

[Rhondasway]

Thanks again guys. I ran at Mission, BC last night and was doing 11. 90, 11. 95. Having the most trouble hooking up...

Today at my points race at Pacific, I ran 11. 86, 11. 88, and got my best 60' ever, 1. 67.

Although she runs just awesome, there is indeed room to grow in tuning this motor. My pump is not turned up, no store-bought injectors, etc, etc. I need better traction too. I'm getting a good baseline on her (and totally enjoying the ride!), and will take more steps forward as I can with Fletcher's help. My current goal is to get her down to 11. 50 without any drugs. At that point I would need a rollbar, which I will not do. The most important thing to me is that she remain extremely reliable, with minimal mortality. I believe this can be accomplished, but it will be a learning process.

Lofty goals, yes, but we may as well break ground as follow in others' footsteps...

I'm also kinda looking forward to dynoing just out of curiosity. Compared to other trucks near my quickness (and their dyno numbers), I should be about 850-900rwhp... :-laf :-laf

 

[TravisG]

Rhonda- When you say no store bought injectors do you mean you are running 180 injectors or just 370 marines? If you don't wanna share I understand. I just really like reading about yours and all those other fellas truck up in the Northwest. They are fast.

 

[Rhondasway]

Travis, they're 370's that I've had for several years. PDR rebuilt them for me last year (if I remember correctly), and they're just a great injector, but one wonders with all the I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER-chat going on about so-and-so's injectors if I couldn't do just a wee better. Even if I did, I'd keep those 370's since they've been so good. Kinda like my old H2E; couldn't sell it, but it was worth its weight in gold (until its untimely demise due to circumstances outside its control ... )

 

[Green Machine]

Don't be to shure on them Dyno numbers Kid. Just becasue you can peak it to 800 does not mean its a fast truck. It all depends on when the tork hits in the Rpm band for Drag racen. I think a 600hp/1300tork truck will kick butt to a 800/800 truck anyday.

But hay Im just a Kid that can type, Never have built any kool Diesel stuff yet.

 

[Rhondasway]

Well, I've logged over 4000 miles since the rebuild, and she's running great! I've been to the track a few times, running 11. 8's and 11. 9's (with lotsa fuel in the tank).

I'll be up at Mission this weekend for the NHRDA diesel drags and expect to do about the same (excellently!). I may wait to see if anyone can match my times before I hop her up any more (guess I'm safe for this year, :-laf ), or at least wait 'til later in the season. Right now I just need to get the feel for her new setup and hone my bracket skills...